Child shot on city’s east side ruled accidental

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – A five year old boy is recovering after he was shot by a bullet that, police say, wasn’t even meant for him. It happened late Friday night on the east side near 42nd St. and Post Rd.

“You think we’re safe in the house, we’re not even safe in our own home,” said neighbor Zanetta Smith.

A neighborhood is wondering where to go to be safe. It comes in to question after a five-year-old boy was shot in the back while he was in his own home. Zanetta Smith has a young daughter, and is trying to figure out a way to protect her.

“Shoot, is there any way you can? Because, you’re supposed to protect them by being in the house, but is there any way?”

Police say bullets started flying every which way from guns being shot in a neighborhood across the street. The bullets weren’t even meant for the boy, but one still hit him and put him in the hospital. It’s part of what has been such a violent bloody past seven days in Indianapolis.

Last Saturday, FOX 59 News told you about a 10-year-old who, police say, was accidentally shot by a sibling in an eastside neighborhood.

Wednesday night, four separate shootings all happened on the eastside just hours apart. One person was killed and three others were injured.

IMPD officer Rod Bradway was killed by a gunman after he was ambushed trying to help a woman being held in a northwest side apartment, Friday. Now, a five-year-old is recovering after he was hit by a bullet not even meant for him.

“That just goes to show you that bullets don’t have a name, and they travel when people’s out here shooting,” said Smith.

Neighbors say they are careful at night, and do feel protected because IMPD officers are there nightly doing patrols.

Metro police detectives are investigating all of these shootings. No charges have been filed in this latest case.